THE NEW YORK TIMES: Iran’s foreign minister accused Washington of undermining diplomacy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. expected to hear from Tehran on Friday.
The United States said it had fired on two Iranian-flagged oil tankers on Friday, as Iran’s foreign minister on Friday accused the United States of “a reckless military adventure” and of undermining diplomatic efforts to end the war.
U.S. Central Command said it had disabled the two tankers as they tried to reach an Iranian port. The latest strikes came a day after the U.S. military and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz — fighting that the Iranian military said was triggered by an earlier U.S. attack on another Iranian tanker.
They also came as Iranian officials have said Washington and Tehran are debating a one-page U.S. proposal for the sides to reopen the strait and cease hostilities for 30 days as they negotiate a comprehensive deal to end the war.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked about the state of negotiations, said that the United States expected a “response” from Iran on Friday. And despite the exchanges of fire in recent days, both President Trump and Iran’s foreign ministry have insisted that their monthlong cease-fire was holding.
U.S. Central Command said on Thursday that “unprovoked Iranian attacks” on three American destroyers had involved missiles, drones and small boats. In response, the U.S. military said it had “targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces,” including missile and drone launch sites.
The Iranian military said the United States had violated the cease-fire a day earlier by firing on an Iranian oil tanker trying to cross an American blockade. It said it had “retaliated by attacking U.S. military vessels.”
Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters in Washington on Thursday evening, dismissed the Iranian attacks as a “trifle” and again warned that Iran “better sign their agreement fast,” an apparent reference to the one-page U.S. proposal. A key hurdle was the U.S. demand for advance commitments on the fate of Iran’s nuclear program and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, three senior Iranian officials said.
On Friday, the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, questioned in a social media post whether the U.S. strikes were a “crude pressure tactic.” He added: “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure.” Iran War Live Updates » | Euan Ward, Leily Nikounazar, Farnaz Fassihi, Erica L. Green and Motoko Rich | Friday, May 8, 2026
